Was it dangerous?

This might be one of the most difficult questions for someone considering a pilgrimage or a personal development expedition. In my case, there have been several risks to the favourable realisation of my project. They have been highlighted already in the application for the award. Since I am now reporting on my pilgrimage, what follows is a reflection on how dangerous it had been. Each aspect is described in the analogous way: the risk is first indicated, solutions predicted in the initial application follow. If problems have been encountered, they are presented at the end of each case study.

Cancellations or other flight problems; risk: low; significant complications encountered

Solutions proposed initially: buying travel insurance; appropriate packing which would exclude the possibility of the loss of luggage preventing me from continuing with the project; four days in Santiago de Compostela planned at the end of the expedition provide the flexibility which would be needed in case of a delay related with flight problems; staying in contact with friends living in London in case of the problems with a flight change in London Stansted.

The developments during the realisation of the project: the first change to the initial project plan has been introduced during the process of purchasing flight tickets. Given the time difference between the application deadline and the receipt of the funding, the prices of the flights have altered and also Ryanair has changed the time of Lublin – London Stansted flight. As a result, it was more beneficial both economically and in terms of time spent at the London Stansted airport waiting for the second flight to fly from Warsaw instead of Lublin on the 9th of September, 2013. Further, the flight on the 10th of September, 2013 from London Stansted to Lourdes has been cancelled minutes before the passengers were supposed to board the plan. This was the only Ryanair flight to France cancelled that day and I was able to re-book the flight for the early afternoon. Instead of Lourdes I flew to Biarritz and subsequently was given a car lift to Lourdes airport by two very kind British people. There has been almost no financial costs of the cancellation, other than an additional bottle of water at the airport, but the resulting delay led me to change my Pyrenees plans. Instead of five days spent hiking I devoted four days to the Pyrenees part of the project and the day saved in this way I spent visiting Lourdes, something I have not been able to do, as planned, on the 10th of September, 2013.

Weather conditions, especially in the Pyrenees; risk: medium; no complications encountered

Solutions proposed initially: investigating the weather conditions in the past at a similar time of the year; possibility of adjusting hiking plans according to the weather on the ground; flexibility as far as the number of days spent in the Pyrenees and the route chosen.

The risk of physical injuries; risk: medium; significant complications encountered

Solutions proposed initially: previous extensive hiking experience made me aware of what kind of precautions must be taken while hiking in the Pyrenees or walking the Camino de Santiago; equipping myself with a basic kit of medical equipment; intensive and appropriate physical training before the expedition, including a summer expedition to the Tatra Mountains, Poland.

The developments during the realisation of the project: Despite an intensive and appropriate physical training that preceded the expedition and several years of experience in hiking, the efforts and the difficulties of a 40 day project have been significantly felt by my body. To provide an illustration of the challenges one might be faced with, two important physical injuries I have had are mentioned here. Firstly, due to an unbalanced weight of the rucksack in the first days I have damaged, most likely, a muscle around the left shoulder. The consequent pain has been felt, with variations in severity, until after the flight back to Poland. Similarly, having visited Lourdes, having hiked in the Pyrenees and having walked around 550 kms of the Camino de Santiago, I developed a condition called tendinitis on my right leg. Following further 30 kms it has worsened to the point that I began considering whether I would be able to continue. Luckily, I was given an appropriate diagnosis and advice at one of the albergues [shelters on the Camino de Santiago for pilgrims] and the state of my leg started to improve each day. Fortunately, the complications just described have not been so severe as to prevent me from continuing with the project.

Language barrier; risk: low; no complications encountered

Solutions proposed initially: lack of fluency in French would be compensated by acquiring the basic knowledge before setting for an expedition, booking accommodation in advance and carefully researching transport options, this risk applies only to the first part of the expedition.

Unexpected delays during the expedition; risk: medium; no complications encountered

Solutions proposed initially: four days in Santiago de Compostela planned at the end of the expedition provide the flexibility which would be needed in case of any delay; fluency in Spanish would be of usefulness in case of the immediate problems throughout the majority of the expedition; possibility of covering a part of the expedition by a vehicle in case of an extreme delay.

The developments during the realisation of the project: Fortunately, with the exception of the flight problems in the first stage of the implementation of the project, there have been no further delays during the expedition. Consequently, I was able to further extend it by renting a car with a friend met on the Camino de Santiago and driving to Cabo Fisterra, the traditional and historical ending point of the Camino de Santiago. Given the state of my leg, this has been the only reasonable way of arriving in Finisterre and then hiking further 3.5 km to the lighthouse at Costa da Morte.

Photo: La meseta, the Camino de Santiago